Loading attachment for graders



April 14, 1931. G. GARDNER LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR GRADERS Filed Feb. 1592 3 SheetsSheet l m wN B 3 R 0 WMNWMIN o Q mm m =Q\ @QQ 0 .m km a n mma K NW 9 g R m R RN mm @N I...\ Q a 1 Q U on Q N a 3 3 mm km April 14,1931. G. GARDNER LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR GRADERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 15 1923 ,Tlw/n lot geoye Gardne} J @W i l-orn April 14, 1931. a.GARDNER 1,300,632

LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR GRADERS Filed Feb. 15 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 GeogeGard Her 6 J 27;;

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 GEORGE GARDNER, OF REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA LOADINGATTACHMENT FOR GRADERS Applicationfiled February 15, 1928. Serial No.254,429.

This invention relates to road working machinery, and. more particularlyto that class ofroad working machines ordinarily termed graders.

| An. object of the invention is to provide an attachment for graderswhereby the dirt scrapedto one side by the scraper blade, may

be automatically lifted and dumped into a vehicle.

A. more specialized object is the provision of a bucket conveyor adaptedto be positioned upon the-chassis of a grader so as to enable thebuckets thereof to scoop up, elevate and dump. into. a suitable vehicle,the. dirt which has beenscraped to one side by the scraper blade. of thegrader.

, A further object is the provision of a conveyor as above described,which is adapted tobe positioned upon any grader of conventional design.

A further object is the provision of a device ofthe character described,having incorporated therewith, various adjustments permittingalterations in the elevationv and reach of the conveyor, and permittingthe scraper blade to be adjusted to different degrees of angularity withthe longitudinal axis of the grader.

It is a further object of my invention to provide-a combined grader andelevator and conveyor which is simple and rugged in structure, isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture, .and is speedy and positive inoperation.l,

Withthe foregoing and other objects in View which will be made manifestin the following detailed description and specifically pointed out inthe appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings foran illustrative embodiment of the invention,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a com-' ing taken upon the line 3-3 ofFig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

In terms of broad inclusion, the device of my invention comprisesmechanism adapted to be supported upon the chassis of a road grader, andto scoop up the dirt deposited at one side by the blade of the grader,and to lift the dirt to a suitable elevation to enable it to be dumpedinto a vehicle.

In greater detail, the present embodiment 3 of my invention is shownmounted upon the chassis 6 of a conventional road grader, having ascraper blade 7 depending from the chassis 6. In accordance with theusual de sign of graders, the blade 7 is capable of vertical adjustment.For this purpose a pair of hand wheels 8 are mounted upon the chassis 6,in position to be operable from the operators platform. Each of the handwheels 8 is operatively connected to, a crank 9 by gearing 9 (see Fig;2) and each of these cranks 9 is connected by a link 10 to theassociated end of the structure upon which the blade 7 is supported.This structure comprises a ring 10 which is rigid with a rail 10"extending longitudinally of the chassis 6, and a ring 23 which isrevolubly disposed upon the ring 10' and guided for rotation withrespect thereto, by a plurality of bracle ets 23 which are rigid withthe ring 10 and :10 extend loosely about the lower edge of the ringQS.The blade 7 is suspended from the revoluble ring 23 in the well-knownmanner, by a plurality of arms 7 The forward end of the rail 10 ispivotedto the chassis G, S and the after end is guided by mechanism (notshown) for vertical movement, but is restrained against movementtransversely with respect to the chassis 6. It is therefore apparentthat by operating one of the hand wheels 8, the associated end of theblade 7 may be raised or lowered independently of the other end, thebrackets 23 being sufficiently loose to permit a certain amount ofswinging of the ring 23 about a horizontal axis extending longitudinallyof the chassis 6 and with respect to the stationary ring 23-. Similarly,by operating both hand wheels 8 the entire blade may be adjustedvertically. The blade 7 is also capable of being adjusted to differentdegrees of angularity with the longitudinal axis of the grader by beingop- 'eratively connected to a similar hand-wheel also accessible fromthe operating platform.

lThiS mechanism is'of the type'conventionally employed upon roadgraders, and the details thereof have therefore not been shown. It is tobe understood that such graders operate by being drawn along the surfaceto be graded, theblade 7 being adjusted to either bepushed to one side.v

My invention contemplates a conveyor combined with such a grader,whereby the .dirt may be lifted as it accumulates at the after end ofthe blader', and elevated sulficiently to permitthe dispositionthereofin "a suitable vehicle, For this purpose I pro- .vide a frame comprisinga pair of spaced side members 11 connected at each end by a shaft 12revolublymounted therein. A pair of sprockets-13 are mounted upon eachof the shafts 12, and a pair of endless chains 14 are carried by thesesprockets. A plurality of conveyor buckets 16 are'disposed throughoutthe entire length of the chains 14.;

The lower of the two shafts 12 is extended at each end to be revolublymounted within a journal 21 which is supported upon an auxiliary frame22, which in turn is rigidly I secured to the circular frame23 fromwhichthe blade 7 of the grader depends, and which,

pose ofvarying the degree of angularity of the blade 7, as; well asbeing capable of vertical adjustment as previously indicated. Itmay'thus be seen that thelower end of the 1 conveyor-is supportedclosely adjacent a point at which dirt is discharged from the. after endof the scraper 7, being mountedrigidly for movement therewith.Preferably V the associated link is connected directly to the auxiliaryframe 22, the other link 10 be 'ing left with its normal connection tothe circular frame 23. Also, the mounting of the the lower end oftheconveyor is of such a nature that pivotal movement of t econveyor abouta horizontal axis ad acent its lower end 1s possible. 7

--A pair of brackets .24; are rigidly secured to-the'top of the chassis6, and are rigidly joined'by a bar 25 which has pivoted thereon" bymeansof a bolt 26, apiece of angle iron 27 1 corresponding in length tothewidthcf the conveyor; A link 28 is pivoted to each end of the angleiron 27, each link 28 being pro- I videdwitha plurality of holes 29' forthe reception of a bolt 31 extending through each of theside members 11.Thus by engaging conveyor; vreceive dirt discha-rged'from preferablybeing riveted or otherwise directly'and rigidlyconnected thereto in linetherewith, soas to confine the dirt within an area whereit maybeconveniently picked up by the buckets 16 as they pass through the trougharound the lower "sprockets 113.

Moreover the bottom of the trough is, at sub-V stantially thesame levelas atthe lowermost edgefof the blade 7, with the result that the I dirtdischarged from the blade, is *depos'ited therein; It is evidentthereforei that" the normal operation of the blade 7 is in no mannerinterfered with, the dirt naturally falling into the trough from theafter. end of the blade instead of accumulating in an elongatediwindrow.Furtherm'ore,no alteration of the blade 7 required to satisfactorilymount the elevator of rnyinventionin operative positionthereadjacent.For the purpose of imposing the desired degree of tension upon thechains 14,thejournals within which the upper shaft 12 is revolubly'mounted, are slidable vertically within 'guideways 36; "A rod 37 isthreadedthrough aQnut 38 and extends downwards on each side: of the" r 77 conveyorframe to have "its lower'end engaged as explained hereinaboveis mounted for pivv otal movement about a vertical axis. with re spectto the stationary ringlQ for the'purwithin one of the journals withinwhich the shaft 12 rotates, so that by turning the rods upon thechains14. Asprocket 39-.is' rigid- 1y mounted upon the o'uter end of'the uppershaft 12, and is connected by an endless chain 40 toa sprocket 41carried upon a shaft 42 jour1 ialedalso upon "the frame of t em Abeveled gear 43 is carried by the shaft 42 and is enmeshed with abeveledgear lt upon a shaft 46 which is connected through a clutch 17 to amotor 48 which is rigidly supported upon the chassis 6'of the grader. A

chute 51 is supportedadjacentithe upper end of the conveyor by arms 52whereby dirt dumped from thebuckets 16'as they pass over the uppersprockets 13, may ,be conveyed to a point sufficiently spaced fromthegrader to permit the disposition thereof within suitable vehicles. It isevident that if the weight of the, entire conveyor, as well as, one-halfthe weight ofthe blade 7, were to be supported solely upon the link 10and crank9 associated with that end of the blade 7 fromwhiclidirt isdischarged into the trough 34, considerable difficulty might be causedin theoperation of l the associated hand wheel 8 to vary the verticaladjustment of that end of the blade and the conveyor. Consequently, Ihave provided means for supporting at least a portion of this weightthrough the expedient of a counter-weight 56 which depends by means of acable 57 upon the opposite side of the chassis 6. This cable 7 passesover sheaves 58 and 59 journalled upon the chassis 6 around anothersheave 61 journalled upon the auxiliary frame 22, and carried upwardstherefrom to be made fast to the chassis 6 at any convenient location.It is readily apparent that this will assist in the operation of theassociated hand wheel 8.

Briefly, the operation of my device is as follows: The grader is drawnalong the surface to be graded, with the blade 7 in the proper positionto engage the dirt and dis charge it into the trough 34. The conveyor isdriven by the motor 48, shaft 46, shaft 42, chain 40, and sprocket 39,so that the buckets 16 pass through the trough 34: successively, pickingup the dirt there deposited. As the buckets pass over the upper sprocket13, the dirt is dumped from the buckets into the chute 51, and conveyedto a point Where it may be deposited into suitable vehicles. It shouldbe observed that the conveyor and chute 51 extend laterally from thegrader, thus making it convenient for trucksto travel alongside thegrader and receive the dirt directly from the chute 51, avoiding thenecessity of additional labor or the employment of other machines toload the trucks.

Various changes in the details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame mounted forpivotal move ment about a vertical axis on said 61138518,

and a horizontal blade carried by said frame; and a conveyor mountedadjacent its lower end on said frame and mounted adjacent its upper endfor pivotal movement about a vertical axis on said chassis.

2. In combinatian, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame mounted forpivotal movement about a vertical axis on. said chassis, and ahorizontal blade carried by said frame; and a conveyor mounted adjacentits lower end on said frame and mounted adjacent its upper end forpivotal movement about an axis in vertical alignment with the axis ofsaid frame.

3. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame mounted forpivotal movement about a vertical axis on said chassis, and a horizontalblade carried by said frame; a conveyor pivotally mounted adjacent itslower end on said frame and mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotalmovement about a vertical axis on said chassis, and

means for altering the elevation of the upper end of said conveyor.

4. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, aframe mounted forpivotal 'movement about a vertical axis on. said chassis, and ahorizontal blade carried by said frame; a conveyor pivotally mountedadjacent its lower end on said frame, a bracket rigid with said chassis,and a link pivoted at one end adjacent the upper end of said conveyorand pivoted at the other end to said bracket.

5. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame mounted forpivotal movement about a vertical axis on said chassis, and a horizontalblade carried by said frame; a conveyor pivotally mounted adjacent itslower end on said frame, a bracket rigid with said chassis, a linkpivoted at one end adjacent the upper end of said conveyor and pivotedat the other end to said bracket, and means for altering the effectivelength of said link.

6. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame carried bysaid chassis, a

horizontalblade carried by said frame, andmeans for altering theelevation of said frame; and a conveyor comprising a frame, a shaftextending transversely of said frame adjacent each end thereof, asprocket on each shaft, an endless chain carried by said sprockets,buckets on said chain, and means for. rotating said shafts, saidconveyor being supported at its lower end upon said blade frame andadjacent its upper end upon said chassis.

7. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame carriedthereby, a blade carried by said frame, and means for altering theelevation of said frame; and a conveyor comprising a frame pivot-ed atits lower end to said blade frame adjacent one end of the blade, a shaftextending transversely of said conveyor frame adjacent each end thereof,a sprocket on each shaft, an endless chain carried by said sprockets,buckets on said chain, means for rotating said shafts, and a linkpivotally connected at one end to said chassis, and at the other endadjacent the upper end of said conveyor frame.

8. In combinatioma grader comprising a chassis, a frame carried thereby,a blade carried by said frame, and means for altering the elevation ofsaid frame; and a conveyor comprising a frame pivoted at its lower endto said blade frame adjacent one end of the blade, a shaft extendingtransversely of said conveyor frame adjacent each end thereof, asprocket on each shaft, an endless chain carried by said sprockets,buckets on said chain, means for rotating said shafts, and a linkpivotally connected at one end to said chassis, and at the other endadjacent the upper end of said conveyor frame.

9. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame carriedthereby, a blade carried by said fra1ne,,and means for altering theelevation of said frame; and a conveyor comprising a frame pivoted atits lower end to saidblade frame adjacent one endof the blade, a shaftextendingtransversely of said, conveyor frame adjacent each end thereof,a

sprocket oneach shaft, an endless, chain carried by said sprockets,buckets on said chain, means'for rotating said shafts, a "link-pinotally connecteclat one end to said chassis,

and at the other end adjacent the upper end of said conveyor frame, anda counterbalance operatively connected to said blade and conveyor framefor supporting a portion of the weight thereof, 7

v 10. In combination with a road grader comprising a chassis and a bladecarried thereby in oblique angularity'with the dicomprising a chassisand ablade carried "rection of travel of said grader; and aconveyor'mounted 'onsaid chassis and comprising a trough rigid with saidblade and posi tioned in alignment with the lower edge of said blade,and means for conveying dirt from said trough.

11. In combination w1th a road grader thereby in oblique angularitywiththe directionof travelof said grader; and a conveyor mounted-0n saidchassis andcomprlsi ing a trough r1g1d with said blade and positioned inalignment with the lower'edge of "said: blade, *-a frame mounted forpivotal movement about a horizontalaxis above said trough, and aconveyor carried by said frame and comprising buckets adapted to dipinto said trough as they travel upon the frame,

and'means for actuating said conveyor. 7 1 12. In combination, a roadgrader comprising a' chassis and a scraper blade carried thereby andadapted to discharge dirt from an endthereof and an elevator carried bysaid chassis in position toreceive dirt directly from-said-blade,andcomprisin'g a plurality of buckets mounted for movement in apathextending from closely adjacent said 2 bladefmeans for actuatingsaid elevator, and

a trough fastened to said blade and extendj'ing therefrom in alignmentwith the discharge'end thereof, said troughdefining said path ofthebuckets inmoving past the end ofsaid blade. w

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE GARDNER.

